Blog: Whistler Life
CTVOlympics.ca
By Regan Lauscher, CTVOlympics.ca Posted Tuesday, October 6, 2009 11:20 AM ET
Well, as sure as an 'amen' in church, the season is underway.
And as much as I'd like to tell you that life as an athlete is filled with bubblegum and cotton candy, chasing butterflies and giggling, reality paints a much different picture.
The un-glamorous truth is, Olympic season is the most notorious of all for unearthing the broadest spectrum of supporters and shunners, cohesiveness and controversy.
All of a sudden, all sorts of opinions and emotion bubble to the surface like oil from an unidentified well. An old cliché turns to fact - peoples 'true colors' indeed come out.
And although there is tons of encouragement by the majority of people, there is definitely a distinct group of people who haven't caught that metaphorical "Olympic" fever.
Simply put, I am preparing to race in a 'home' games in a place that feels nothing like home.
I was euphoric to finally start the season. To stop ‘talking' about it and start doing it. Ready to reap the rewards of a long and grueling summer. Awaiting the pay-off of last years bi-lateral shoulder surgeries. Confident to try my new sled. Itching to get on the ice. Genuinely proud of the work I have put into being an athlete for more than half of my life.
And above all, ready to share that with the world....on Canada's behalf.
But after less than a weeks stay out in Whistler, I'm not so convinced that ALL of Canada shares my keenness or my pride.
With a blunt and harsh realization that not everyone with a Canadian passport is brimming over with excitement and anticipation for the sixteen day event in February, I must admit that my bright and shiny optimism has turned a murky shade of grey.
Not because sliding hasn't been great - it's been fantastic. I feel in top form on my sled, I am in my best physical shape, and emotionally, I feel complete zen.
My biggest challenge at the moment is surviving life in British Columbia.
To be honest I'm not exactly sure what the people in Whistler dislike more, the fact that I'm Albertan or that I'm a participant in their perceived '‘Olympic abomination.'
It's a double whammy against me. Lose-lose.
I can tell you though, that I am less frightened of the near 120, 000 black bears in the area than I am of writing down my home address, wearing my team jacket in public or cheering for the Calgary Flames out loud.
Maybe I reek with the stench of oil or speak in a tongue that sounds a little too progressive conservative, but I feel like if I'm not in snowboard boots, on a committee to save endangered squirrels or addressing the coffee barista by name, then I'm not welcome.
And it's not like we're trying to take over the town. We live humble little luger lives.
Our existence here can be found at the track, in the gym, at the dinner table and in our beds. That's pretty much it.
We were dumbfounded by the lecture we got at Meadow Park Sports Centre for being too ‘aggressive' with the gym equipment and bringing too many people into the facility.
It made about as much sense to me as scolding Dale Earnhardt for showing up at a car dealership unannounced with all his NASCAR buddies. I mean, one might think it'd be good for business.
We're not taking any jobs, we're creating them. So many that they can't even fill them all.
I was shocked when I read the headline on the front page of Friday's Vancouver based newspaper, The Province - "Olympic Jobs Go Begging".
Seriously? Ten thousand PAID positions for a once in a lifetime chance at working at an Olympic Games and we gotta beg? Maybe a free jacket and lunch would sweeten the pot.
We can't even peacefully unveil the Olympic '‘uniform' that the Canadians will wear without political upheaval from our government's opposition and their accusations that the logo was a devious scheme of the conservatives as part of "cheap partisan politics."
Well I'm not much into politics but if the conservatives need me, I'll vouch for them. I was part of the athlete panel who voted on the final logo and I assure you, I wasn't in cahoots with Steven Harper.
At the end of the day, Steve Yzerman likes it, so it's fine by me.
The Olympic Games has catapulted Whistler to the top of any ‘must see' world winter destinations list, unquestionably boosting the economy. The Sea-to-Sky highway, among others, have virtually received complete reconstruction.
And the Olympics are a bad thing?
Don't get me wrong, I welcome debate and firmly believe in the freedom of speech, it's what makes our diverse country so great to live in.
It's the hypocrisy that I can't stand.
You can't reject the Olympic Games and everything it stands for and then turn around and rent your house out for enough money to pay off your mortgage.
I am certainly not implying "everyone' here is against the Olympics. There is a undoubtedly a large group of supporters and to you all, we feel sincerely indebted.
[b]I mean, I get it.... we aren't saving lives, putting guys in the moon or improving the deteriorating environment, but seriously, I have to ask, in a country full of opportunity and prosperity, and with room for everyone, "why the hate?".